The Conversation: Recent Topics
For more information, please contact Steven Reid at: steven.reid3@carleton.ca.
Updated October 15, 2026
Arts:
Halloween: Seeking pitches across literature, film and popular arts related to scary themes.
Deadline: Mid-October
Culture + Society/Health:
Perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, can bring a wide range of physical and mental health symptoms that can affect everything from a woman’s relationship with others to the one she has with her career. Looking for a scholar or academic in sociology, anthropology of health or gender studies to examine how perimenopause shapes women’s everyday lives.
Deadline: ASAP
Environment + Energy:
Seeking articles on the upcoming COP31 conference, particularly on climate adaptation.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Seeking research about Indigenous-led education or Indigenous language learning projects.
Politics:
Looking for analyses on the aftermath of the Alberta independence referendum and what it means for the future of Alberta separatism, Canadian national unity, Danielle Smith’s career, etc.
Deadline: After Oct. 19
Science + Technology:
“The last of the magicians” and “the father of modern physics:” Seeking a historian of science to write a Halloween-themed story about how alchemy, the occult and science flowed through the work of Isaac Newton.
Deadline: ASAP
Wild hair, bubbling test tubes and lab coats: Many kids will be dressing as mad scientists this Halloween. Where does this trope come from? Focus on history of science, or literary/film portrayals, or the psychology of why we fear scientific experimentation.
Deadline: ASAP
Sorcery, or science? How did alchemy contribute to modern chemistry? Seeking a historian of science for a fun but evidence-based Halloween-themed article.
Deadline: ASAP
Researchers at Anthropic claim small AI models could self-replicate on consumer products such as smart TVs and fridges. Seeking an explainer.
Deadline: ASAP
What happens in your brain when you watch a spooky movie? Seeking a researcher to write a fun explainer about the neuroscience of fear, for Halloween.
Deadline: ASAP
Slaughterbots? How are combat robots — from American AI-powered humanoids to China’s “wolfpack” of robotic dogs that can be equipped with grenade launchers — changing the nature of war?
Deadline: ASAP
How do animals feel, show and process grief? Last week orca J31 (Tsuchi) was spotted carrying her dead newborn near Sombrio Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Seeking a science-based explainer about grief in any or multiple species.
Deadline: ASAP
Evergreen requests that aren’t time-sensitive so pitches are welcome any time:
Science + Technology:
Why does winter make you more sleepy and hungry? Looking for science stories on the impacts of winter on human minds and bodies, from changes to cortisol and neurotransmitters to the possibility of human hibernation genes.
Deadline: Ongoing
How do animals communicate? And/or how is AI helping researchers decode their languages? Seeking articles on any species — from dogs to sperm whales to elephants.
Deadline: Ongoing
Why do we call it the Milky Way? What do other cultures call it? Seeking stories about the mythical origins of astronomical names.
Deadline: Ongoing
Why is pickleball so addictive? Seeking a neuroscience perspective
Deadline: Ongoing
Do you research a quirky, interesting and little-known species? Tell us about your work.
Deadline: Ongoing
Updated October 8, 2026
Quarter Life: Series written for young people (20s-30s):
Looking for a story about fall foraging for our hobby series. What are the benefits of foraging, what can people look for this time of year, and how can they get started safely?
Deadline: ASAP
Arts:
Halloween: Seeking pitches across literature, film and popular arts related to scary themes.
Deadline: Mid-October
Giller Prize: The 2026 longlist has been released. Seeking pitches examining the themes and literary trends reflected in this year’s nominated works.
Deadline: ASAP
Business + Economy:
Looking for someone to write a story about what the U.S. midterm election results could mean for Trump’s tariffs on Canada and other economic issues affecting the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Deadline: ASAP
What’s the best way to stage a financial intervention? Looking for a story about when friends and family should speak up about someone’s finances, and how to intervene without overstepping or damaging the relationship.
Deadline: ASAP
Seeking a story about the business of witchcraft and New Age spirituality: How practices like tarot, crystals and spellwork have become a growing consumer market, and what’s driving the commercialization of modern spirituality.
Deadline: ASAP
Culture + Society:
Perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, can bring a wide range of physical and mental health symptoms that can affect everything from a woman’s relationship with others to the one she has with her career. Looking for a scholar or academic in sociology, anthropology of health or gender studies that can examine how perimenopause shapes women’s everyday lives.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Seeking research about Indigenous-led education or Indigenous language learning projects.
Environment + Energy:
Seeking articles on the upcoming COP31 conference, particularly on climate adaptation.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics:
Looking for a scholar who could file quickly on the Nobel Peace Prize if Mark Carney wins. Announcement is Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. EST.
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for analyses on the upcoming Alberta independence referendum. What will its outcome – an expected defeat — mean for both the sovereignty movement and Danielle Smith?
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for a piece on the potential Canada-EU association and what it would mean for Canadians in terms of living and working or retiring in the EU, travel, visa requirements, etc.
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Technology:
What happens in your brain when you watch a spooky movie? Seeking a researcher to write a fun explainer about the neuroscience of fear, for Halloween.
Deadline: ASAP
Slaughterbots? How are combat robots — from American AI-powered humanoids to China’s “wolfpack” of robotic dogs that can be equipped with grenade launchers — changing the nature of war?
Deadline: ASAP
How do animals feel, show and process grief? Last week orca J31 (Tsuchi) was spotted carrying her dead newborn near Sombrio Point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Seeking a science-based explainer about grief in any or multiple species.
Deadline: ASAP
Why does winter make you more sleepy and hungry? Looking for science stories on the impacts of winter on human minds and bodies, from changes to cortisol and neurotransmitters to the possibility of human hibernation genes.
Deadline: ASAP
Evergreen requests that aren’t time-sensitive so pitches are welcome any time:
Arts:
Looking for stories on how AI is changing the book industry, from publishers pulling books or cancelling deals over suspected AI use to the flood of AI-generated nonfiction hitting the market. Interested in the implications for authors, publishers and readers, and how the industry is deciding what kinds of AI use are acceptable.
Deadline: ASAP
Business:
Do vacations actually reduce stress? Seeking a story that looks at what research says about the benefits of taking time off, including how vacations affect well-being, productivity and burnout, and how much time off is recommended.
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Technology:
How do animals communicate? And/or how is AI helping researchers decode their languages? Seeking articles on any species — from dogs to sperm whales to elephants.
Deadline: ASAP
Why do we call it the Milky Way? What do other cultures call it? Seeking stories about the mythical origins of astronomical names.
Deadline: Ongoing
Why is pickleball so addictive? Seeking a neuroscience perspective
Deadline: Ongoing
Do you research a quirky, interesting and little-known species? Tell us about your work.
Deadline: Ongoing
How do we remember and why do we forget? Seeking a memory researcher to write an explainer on the state of the science regarding memory.
Deadline: Ongoing
Updated September 21, 2026
Quarter Life: Series written for young people (20s-30s):
Does “pheromone-maxxing” actually work? The trend encourages people to use scents to make themselves more attractive. Seeking a story about what science actually says about smell and attraction in humans.
Deadline: ASAP
Can friendships survive a wealth gap? When you earn less than your friends, differences in spending habits and budgets can create tension and resentment. Seeking a story about navigating wealth gaps in friendships.
Deadline: ASAP
Business + Economy:
What have Trump’s tariffs actually accomplished for the U.S.? Looking for someone who can assess whether the tariffs have delivered on the administration’s goal based on what the evidence tells us so far.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics/Arts:
Looking for an expert on the British monarchy and/or literary biographies to write about Charles Spencer’s book, Swan Song, and the turmoil it’s causing for the Royal Family 29 years after Princess Diana’s death. Or any pitches related to the current drama.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics/Business:
Ed Sheeran and King Charles both put out statements recently that arguably made an already difficult situation much worse for both of them. Why do high-profile people and organizations often fumble crisis communications so badly? What not to say, how to gauge potential public response, etc.
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Technology:
Anthropic’s September 2026 threat intelligence report detailed five uses of Claude models that could support biological weapons development (e.g. redesigning toxins, planning avian influenza mammalian-adaptation experiments etc.). This is the first such disclosure by a private AI company. Seeking an expert to comment — how is Anthropic leading the industry on transparency? What are the worst case future scenarios here?
Deadline: ASAP
China has opened a humanoid factory where robots are made every 10 minutes, by other robots. The country’s output is expected to exceed 100,000 units this year. How will these robots transform our society? Are we psychologically ready? Is this what we want?
Deadline: ASAP
Evergreen requests that aren’t time-sensitive so pitches are welcome any time:
Business + Economy:
Financial deception in relationships: Hidden losses, secret accounts, and debt can put real strain on a relationship. Looking for an expert on the warning signs and how couples can deal with it.
Deadline: Ongoing
Science + Technology:
Do you conduct scientific research in partnership with Indigenous communities? Tell us about your work.
Deadline: Ongoing
Are you heading out into the field this fall or winter? We’d love to hear your stories of working out in the elements, on the land, or on marine expeditions, to conduct science. Tell us about your hypotheses, research instruments, findings, personal challenges.
Deadline: Ongoing
Do you have interesting research papers coming out in the next few months, in any science discipline? We’d love to help you disseminate the results to a general news readership.
Deadline: Ongoing
Updated September 17, 2026
Seeking an article on young disabled workers navigating the modern workplace, including the pressure to hide disabilities, overperform, or compensate for needing accommodations.
Deadline: ASAP
Can friendships survive a wealth gap? When you earn less than your friends, differences in spending habits and budgets can create tension and resentment. Seeking a story about navigating wealth gaps in friendships.
Deadline: ASAP
Arts:
Giller Prize: The 2026 longlist has been released. Seeking pitches examining the themes and literary trends reflected in this year’s nominated works.
Deadline: ASAP
The “discoverabilty” of Canadian content in streaming services was reportedly part of the Canada-U.S. trade negotiations breakdown. Seeking a history of cultural industries protections in Canadian-U.S. trade negotiations and related analysis.
Deadline: ASAP
Indigenous film and creative industries: What’s new and notable in Indigenous film, or across Indigenous film production ecosystems and industries? Seeking stories.
Deadline: ASAP
Alberta or Québec in fiction and non-fiction: Seeking books-based story pitches to could help Canadians reflect on, appreciate and understand Alberta and Québec societies, interprovincial dynamics and separatism impulses.
Deadline: ASAP
Business + Economy:
The Bank of Canada recently unveiled a new vertical $20 bank note featuring a portrait of King Charles III. Seeking a story about the history of portraits, imagery and national symbols on Canadian currency, and what those choices tell us about Canada’s evolving identity.
Deadline: ASAP
A new Acorns survey finds more than half of parents would rather talk to their kids about drugs, alcohol or sex than money. Seeking a story about why money conversations feel so uncomfortable, and how parents can make talking about finances with kids and teens easier.
Deadline: ASAP
Education:
Seeking research about Indigenous-led education or Indigenous language learning projects.
Politics:
Looking for a piece on the potential Canada-EU association and what it could mean for Canadians in terms of living and working or retiring in the EU, travel, visa requirements, etc.
Deadline: ASAP
Looking for analyses on how the governments should respond to alarm bells being sounded about AI by tech giants, and on Donald Trump’s pronouncement that AI doesn’t need guardrails, only a “high IQ” president.
Deadline: ASAP
Politics/Business:
Ed Sheeran and King Charles both put out statements this week that arguably made an already difficult situation much worse for both of them. Why do high-profile people and organizations often fumble crisis communications so badly? What not to say, how to gauge potential public response, etc.
Deadline: ASAP
Science + Technology:
Anthropic’s September 2026 threat intelligence report details five uses of Claude models that could support biological weapons development (e.g. redesigning toxins, planning avian influenza mammalian-adaptation experiments etc.). This is the first such disclosure by a private AI company. Seeking an expert to comment — how is Anthropic leading the industry on transparency? What are the worst case future scenarios here?
Deadline: ASAP
China has opened a humanoid factory where robots are made every 10 minutes, by other robots. The country’s output is expected to exceed 100,000 units this year. How will these robots transform our society? Are we psychologically ready? Is this what we want?
Deadline: ASAP
Evergreen requests that aren’t time-sensitive so pitches are welcome any time:
Arts:
Looking for stories on how AI is changing the book industry, from publishers pulling books or cancelling deals over suspected AI use to the flood of AI-generated nonfiction hitting the market. Interested in the implications for authors, publishers and readers, and how the industry is deciding what kinds of AI use are acceptable.
Deadline: ASAP
Business + Economy:
What have Trump’s tariffs actually accomplished for the U.S.? Looking for someone who can assess whether the tariffs have delivered on the administration’s goal based on what the evidence tells us so far.
Deadline: ASAP
Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi allow users to wager on military conflicts. Looking for someone who can explain how profiting from conflict fits into the broader war economy, and where the ethical and regulatory lines should be drawn.
Deadline: ASAP
Financial deception in relationships: Hidden losses, secret accounts, and debt can put real strain on a relationship. Looking for an expert on the warning signs and how couples can deal with it.
Deadline: Any time
Science + Technology:
Do you conduct scientific research in partnership with Indigenous communities? Tell us about your work.
Deadline: Ongoing
Are you heading out into the field this fall or winter? We’d love to hear your stories of working out in the elements, on the land, or on marine expeditions, to conduct science. Tell us about your hypotheses, research instruments, findings, personal challenges.
Deadline: Ongoing
Do you have interesting research papers coming out in the next few months, in any science discipline? We’d love to help you disseminate the results to a general news readership.
Deadline: Ongoing